With or without a district wide or school building policy, name
calling can be controlled within the classroom using the following
exercise:
- Have students brainstorm names they have heard others called.
- List all suggestions on the board.
- Discuss the following categories: racial, religious, ethnic or
sexual bias. Then categorize the brain stormed names accordingly.
- Describe how all name calling involves prejudice and is equally
harmful.
- Have students suggest rules and consequences for classroom
behavior, such as: None of the listed names in the brainstorming is
acceptable in the classroom. No form of name calling will be
tolerated. Consequences for failure to adhere to this rule will be
_______.
- Affirm and reward positive interactions that begin to build a
safe, inclusive, comfortable environment.
Behavior in your classroom can be controlled by reacting immediately
and consistently to any violation of the rule. The verbally attacked
students understand and feel safe in the classroom.
Source: Alone No More, Minnesota Department
of Education, 1994 |
